The best Carnival ships right now are the three Excel-class giants, Carnival Jubilee, Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration, followed closely by the Vista-class trio of Panorama, Horizon and Vista. The lowest-rated ships tend to be the older or recently transferred ones, notably Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure in Australia. That said, the best Carnival ships for you depend on your budget, your homeport and how long you want to sail.
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Below we rank the whole fleet by class, explain exactly how we did it, and match ships to families, foodies, short-break cruisers and budget travelers. Every fleet detail has been checked against Carnival announcements and cruise industry news as of late October 2026.
How We Ranked the Best Carnival Ships
We have not invented star ratings or review scores. Instead, the ranking below is built on four things you can check yourself:
- Age and refit history: newer hulls and heavily rebuilt ships score higher than older ships with only cosmetic updates.
- Features: water parks, ropes courses, roller coasters, adults-only areas and kids’ clubs.
- Dining choice: how many included and specialty venues you get, including Carnival favorites such as Guy’s Burger Joint and BlueIguana Cantina.
- Space and crowding: bigger ships carry more people, but the newest ones spread them across themed zones, which usually means fewer bottlenecks.
We then cross-checked the order against the one large, public data set we could verify: Cruise Critic’s ranking of Carnival ships by member reviews from the previous 18 months (updated June 2026). In that ranking, Jubilee, Mardi Gras and Celebration came out on top, and Encounter, Adventure, Dream and Luminosa sat at the bottom. Cruise Critic itself points out that the gaps between ships are often small, so treat any “worst” label as relative.
Carnival Ships Ranked by Class (Best to Worst)
Carnival currently sails 29 ships, its largest fleet ever, with more on order. Guest figures below are approximate double-occupancy numbers; with every bunk filled, the Excel ships can carry well over 6,000 people.
| Rank | Class | Ships (year entered Carnival service) | Approx. guests | Standout features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excel | Mardi Gras (2021), Carnival Celebration (2022), Carnival Jubilee (2023) | 5,280+ | BOLT roller coaster, themed zones, the widest dining choice in the fleet, LNG power |
| 2 | Vista | Carnival Vista (2016), Carnival Horizon (2018), Carnival Panorama (2019) | 3,930 to 4,010 | SkyRide, Havana staterooms with a private pool area, IMAX on Vista and Horizon, Sky Zone trampoline park on Panorama |
| 3 | Vista (Fun Italian Style) | Carnival Venezia (2023), Carnival Firenze (2024) | About 4,200 | Ex-Costa ships with Venice and Florence-inspired decor, Italian-leaning dining, Terrazza staterooms |
| 4 | Dream | Carnival Dream (2009), Carnival Magic (2011), Carnival Breeze (2012) | 3,650 to 3,690 | Big WaterWorks areas, wraparound promenade, adults-only Serenity deck |
| 5 | Sunshine | Carnival Sunshine, Sunrise, Radiance (built 1996 to 2000, rebuilt since) | About 3,000 | Older hulls with extensive rebuilds and most of the modern Carnival brands |
| 6 | Conquest and Splendor | Conquest, Glory, Valor, Liberty, Freedom (2002 to 2007); Carnival Splendor (2008) | About 2,980 to 3,010 | Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades, solid value, Splendor based in Sydney |
| 7 | Spirit and Luminosa | Spirit, Pride, Legend, Miracle (2001 to 2004); Carnival Luminosa (2022, ex-Costa) | About 2,120 to 2,260 | Smaller, Panama Canal-sized, lots of balconies, long and seasonal itineraries |
| 8 | Fantasy | Carnival Elation, Carnival Paradise (1998) | About 2,130 | Short, low-cost getaways; fewest features |
| 9 | Adventure (ex-Princess Grand class) | Carnival Adventure, Carnival Encounter (2025, built 2001 to 2002) | About 2,600 | Australia-only; former P&O Australia ships, lowest recent review scores |
A few notes on the order. The Spirit class ranks low on features, not on comfort: many cruisers prefer these smaller ships for Alaska, Hawaii and longer voyages. The Sunshine class sits above some newer ships because of how thoroughly it was rebuilt. And the Fun Italian Style ships rank just below the original Vista trio mainly because they lack some signature Carnival extras, which may be a plus if you want something calmer.
The Best Carnival Cruise Ships: Top 5 Explained
1. Carnival Jubilee
The newest ship in service and the top scorer in recent member reviews. Jubilee sails from Galveston, so it is the natural choice for Texas cruisers. You get the full Excel-class package, from the BOLT coaster to zoned neighborhoods that make a 5,000-plus guest ship feel less crowded than its size suggests.
2. Mardi Gras
The first Excel ship and still one of the best Carnival ships for a week-long trip from Port Canaveral. A useful change for 2027: from late May 2027 Mardi Gras switches to four- and five-day Bahamas cruises, the first time an Excel-class ship has been scheduled for regular short sailings. That makes it the best short-cruise pick in the fleet.
3. Carnival Celebration
Same class, same strengths, sailing seven-night Caribbean trips from Miami. Reviewers frequently mention its kids’ clubs and shows. If you are leaning toward this ship, our guide to the best and worst cabins on Carnival Celebration walks through which areas are noisy and which are worth paying for.
4. Carnival Panorama
The newest Vista-class ship, based on the West Coast, swaps the IMAX theater for a Sky Zone trampoline park. It is a strong all-rounder for families and couples on Mexican Riviera itineraries.
5. Carnival Horizon or Carnival Vista
Both offer the SkyRide, an IMAX theater and the Havana area. Horizon moves to Galveston from May 2027, giving Texans two of the line’s best ships to choose from.
Worst Carnival Ships (and Who Should Still Book Them)
“Worst” is relative on a line where even the oldest ships carry the core Carnival experience. Based on age, features and recent review trends, these are the ships most likely to disappoint if you expect the newest hardware:
- Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure: the former Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure (originally Princess ships) joined Carnival in March 2025, when P&O Cruises Australia was folded into the brand. Recent reviewers have flagged worn areas, awkward layouts and repetitive buffet food. They only sail from Brisbane and Sydney, so most US cruisers will never meet them.
- Carnival Elation and Carnival Paradise: the last two Fantasy-class ships are the most basic in the fleet, with few of the newer venues.
- Carnival Dream and Carnival Luminosa: these tied near the bottom of Cruise Critic’s recent ranking, with reviewers citing limited food options and dated dining areas. Dream moves to New Orleans from May 2027.
Who should still book them? Anyone who mainly wants the destination, a low fare or a short break. A four-night trip on an older ship can cost a fraction of a week on an Excel-class ship, and you still get the comedy club, the pools and the late-night pizza. Watching for promotions helps; our guide to cruise deals for 2027 covers when Carnival discounts tend to appear.
Which Carnival Ship Is Best for You?
Best Carnival ships for families
Choose an Excel or Vista-class ship. The Excel trio has the most to do for teens and the biggest kids’ areas, while Vista, Horizon and Panorama pack in plenty without the scale. Looking ahead, the new Carnival Festivale and Carnival Tropicale will have more connecting rooms and expanded youth spaces, plus a multi-level water park in place of the BOLT coaster.
Best Carnival ships for foodies
The Excel class has the widest spread of included and paid restaurants. Carnival Venezia and Carnival Firenze are worth a look if you prefer an Italian-leaning menu and a slightly different atmosphere. Venezia moves to year-round Miami sailings from late May 2027, and Firenze heads to Miami and then New York in 2027.
Best Carnival ships for short cruises
From Port Canaveral, Mardi Gras sails four- and five-night Bahamas trips from late May 2027, and Festivale’s first round trip is a four-night Bahamas cruise. Many of these call at Celebration Key, the line’s private Grand Bahama destination that opened in July 2025. On a budget, the Sunshine-class and Fantasy-class ships remain the classic weekend choice.
Best Carnival ships for adults and couples
The Havana staterooms on the Vista and Excel ships come with access to a private pool and sun area reserved for Havana guests, which is usually much quieter than the main decks. The smaller Spirit-class ships are another good option, with relaxed long itineraries and plenty of balcony cabins. Not sure a balcony is worth it? See our breakdown of balcony versus inside cabins.
Best Carnival ships on a budget
The Conquest-class ships offer the best mix of price and features, especially Carnival Valor (moving to Mobile in May 2027) and Carnival Freedom (taking over Norfolk sailings in 2027). Fares on these ships are often well below those on the newest ships for the same itinerary length.
Pick by Homeport First, Then by Ship
This is the step most rankings skip. You can only sail on the ships that leave from a port you can reach, and Carnival reshuffles them often. Based on announced deployments for 2027 and 2028:
- Galveston: Carnival Jubilee, plus Carnival Horizon from May 2027, Carnival Sunshine for 2027/28, and Carnival Tropicale when it arrives in 2028.
- Port Canaveral: Mardi Gras, plus the brand-new Carnival Festivale from May 2027.
- Miami: Carnival Celebration (seven-night Caribbean through April 2028) and Carnival Venezia year-round from late May 2027.
- New Orleans and Mobile: Carnival Dream and Carnival Valor respectively from May 2027.
- West Coast: Carnival Panorama, with Carnival Legend at Long Beach for 2027/28.
- Australia: Carnival Splendor, Carnival Adventure and Carnival Encounter, plus seasonal Carnival Luminosa.
If two ships sail similar itineraries from your nearest port, the ranking table above tells you which one to choose. If only an older ship is within reach, compare the fare with the cost of flying to a port with a newer ship.
New Carnival Ships Coming in 2027 and Beyond
The fleet is growing again. Carnival Festivale, the fourth Excel-class ship, is due in spring 2027 and sails from Port Canaveral after a transatlantic maiden voyage from Southampton in early May 2027. Its sister Carnival Tropicale will follow in 2028 from Galveston, carrying more than 6,000 guests at maximum capacity. Both drop the BOLT coaster for a new zone called Sunsation Point and a multi-level water park. After that, Carnival has three much larger ships of about 230,000 tons on order from Fincantieri, with deliveries planned from 2029. As with any new ship, expect them to top the rankings when they arrive. No ships have been officially announced as leaving the fleet at the time of writing.
Many of the top-rated ships share a design, so it helps to understand how Carnival ship classes compare before you book.
If you are deciding between two of the Dream class sisters, our Carnival Dream vs Carnival Breeze comparison sets out the differences.
Thinking of upgrading on your chosen ship? Our guide to Carnival cruise suites and their perks explains what you actually get.
FAQs
What is considered the best Carnival cruise ship?
Carnival Jubilee is widely regarded as the best Carnival ship today. It is the newest in service, has the full Excel-class line-up of features and dining, and led Cruise Critic’s recent member-review ranking ahead of Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration.
What are the worst Carnival ships?
In recent reviews, Carnival Encounter and Carnival Adventure, both former P&O Australia ships, scored lowest, followed by Carnival Dream and Carnival Luminosa. Among US-based ships, the older Fantasy-class Elation and Paradise have the fewest features.
What is the newest Carnival ship?
Carnival Jubilee, which entered service in late 2023, is the newest ship currently sailing. Carnival Festivale is due in spring 2027 and Carnival Tropicale in 2028.
Which Carnival ship is best for adults?
For adults, a Vista or Excel-class ship with a Havana stateroom is a strong choice, as it includes access to a private pool area reserved for Havana guests that is typically far quieter than the main decks. The smaller Spirit-class ships also suit couples who prefer a calmer pace and longer itineraries.
